Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin will hold a hearing on gun violence Feb. 12 as Democrats grapple with crafting a new gun control bill.

The Illinois Democrat chairs the Judiciary Committee’s subpanel on the Constitution, civil rights and human rights.

The Judiciary Committee is expected to begin marking up a new gun-control bill by the end of the month, Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said Wednesday. The major question for committee members is whether a ban on assault weapons proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) will be included in that legislation. Durbin is a supporter of the assault weapons ban.

Feinstein, who is also a member of the Judiciary Committee, will also hold her own subcommittee hearing before any bill is considered. No date has been set for that hearing yet.

Gun violence has been a major problem in Chicago, with more than 500 shooting deaths in 2012. More than 40 murders took place in January alone, including the shooting death of a 15-year-old girl who marched on President Barack Obama’s inaugural parade last week. That total was the highest for the month of January in a decade, according to Chicago newspapers.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a former House member and White House chief of staff, has already proposed additional restrictions to what is already one of the most strict gun-control regimes in the country.

Login to your account

Register for this site!

Username:

Your Email:

RightMarch.com is the "Rapid Response Force" against the ongoing liberal onslaught. It was born out of the frustration of thousands of decent, hard-working Americans when they saw the attacks from the left on conservative American values. It's time to STAND UP for traditional, conservative, patriotic American values. JOIN US TODAY as we lead the "Virtual March from the Right"!